State College Man Charged with Indecent Assault of a Child

A State College man is facing charges for the alleged sexual abuse of a 9-year-old girl.

Bradley J. Arzner, 37, is charged with felony and misdemeanor counts of indecent assault of a minor and corruption of minors.

According to a criminal complaint filed by State College Police, the girl said in an interview on Sept. 20 at the Children's Advocacy Center that Arzner touched her private areas under her clothes and underwear.

The girl said that it happened "more than one time," according to police.

The alleged abuse occurred at Arzner's house. When the girl's grandmother came back from running errands, she would then go home.

The grandmother said the girl disclosed the alleged abuse on Sept. 12, leading to the report. After the grandmother picked her up from Arzner's house that day, the girl told her "I need to tell you something... I'm too embarrassed... I'll write it down."

The girl reportedly wrote a note that said Arzner touches her even though she says no and showed her grandmother on a doll where Arzner had touched her, according to the complaint.

Asked when she suspected the alleged touching may have started, the grandmother said that Arzner got off parole in April and it may have been after that, but that she didn't know if it was the first time, according to the complaint. The grandmother reportedly said the girl stayed at Arzner's home a few times a month and had slept there six or seven times in the past year.

Arzner pleaded guilty in 2005 to aggravated assault and terroristic threat charges in a case where he was accused of stabbing a Penn State student during a fight in downtown State College. In 2006 he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver after being charged in connection with a heroin and cocaine ring.

Arzner was arraigned on Wednesday afternoon before District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker. He was unable to post $50,000 straight bail and was taken to the Centre County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 11.